Price AtlasInteractive atlas · All states · techysurgeon.comAtrium Health Union: what a joint replacement costs
Monroe, NC 28112 · CMS Certification Number 340130. What Medicare pays this hospital for knee, hip and shoulder replacement, what it lists, how it compares, and what a surgery center nearby is paid.
Medicare prices at Atrium Health Union
| Operation | Inpatient avg total payment Medicare + patient share | List price | List ÷ total | Outpatient Medicare allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $17,699 | $102,545 | 5.8× | $11,235 |
| Shoulder replacement | — | — | — | $16,710 |
| Hip replacement after a fracture (DRG 522) | $15,716 | $93,747 | 6.0× | — |
Commercial negotiated rates (beta)
| MS-DRG 470 | Median across insurers | × Medicare total payment | Lowest–highest insurer | Insurers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $31,586 | 1.8× | $25,163–$47,531 | 4 |
| Insurer | Median negotiated, MS-DRG 470 | × Medicare total payment | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $47,531 | 2.7× | 1 |
| Cigna | $36,422 | 2.1× | 1 |
| Ortho Carolina | $26,750 | 1.5× | 1 |
| BCBS NC | $25,163 | 1.4× | 1 |
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2025-12-04); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2025-12-04); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
Quality
Complications after hip or knee replacement: 4.2% (no different from the national rate). Readmissions: 5.7%. Overall Care Compare rating: 4 of 5 stars. Government · Acute · 157 beds
North Carolina requires a certificate of need for new surgery centers.
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Questions
How much does Medicare pay Atrium Health Union for a knee or hip replacement?
In 2024 the average total payment to Atrium Health Union for an inpatient hip or knee replacement stay was $17,699 (MS-DRG 470, 20 Medicare stays; Medicare's payment plus the patient's deductible and coinsurance), and the Medicare allowed amount averaged $11,235 per outpatient case (APC 5115, 106 cases).
What is Atrium Health Union's list price for a joint replacement?
The hospital's average list (chargemaster) price for an inpatient hip or knee replacement was $102,545, 5.8× the average total payment for a Medicare stay. Almost nobody pays the list price; it matters for uninsured bills and percent-of-charge contracts.
Is a knee replacement cheaper at a surgery center near Atrium Health Union?
Yes for Medicare facility payments. Union West Surgery Center, an orthopedic surgery center 15.8 mi away, is paid about $8,806 by Medicare for a knee replacement (CPT 27447), $8,893 less than an inpatient stay at Atrium Health Union. Not every patient is a surgery-center candidate.
How does Atrium Health Union compare with other North Carolina hospitals?
Atrium Health Union's average total payment per Medicare stay is higher than 90% of the 41 North Carolina hospitals that report inpatient hip or knee replacement.
What do commercial insurers pay Atrium Health Union for a hip or knee replacement?
From the hospital's own price-transparency file, commercial plans' negotiated rates for MS-DRG 470 have a median of $31,586 across 4 insurers, ranging from $25,163 to $47,531.